Photo By Senior Airman Sarah McKernan | U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Tessar, an HH-60W crew chief assigned to the 106th...... read more read more
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Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, N.Y. – The New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing officially marked its transition to the HH-60W Jolly Green II search and rescue helicopter during a conversion ceremony held at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, N.Y., Friday, Oct. 25, 2024.
The new model will replace the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters formerly flown by the wing and offers many improvements over the older model.
According to the Lockheed Martin website, improvements include an upgraded avionics suite that includes an integrated mission system with fully integrated cockpit and cabin displays, which reduces aircrew workload and improve mission effectiveness. The HH-60W also features externally mounted weapons for increased cabin space as well as improved cabin and cockpit armor.
“This is a momentous occasion which allows for us to reflect on where we are as an organization and where we are headed,” said Col. Shawn Fitzgerald, 106th Rescue Wing commander.
The HH-60G played a significant role in Air Force rescue for almost 40 years, Fitzgerald explained.
Fitzgerald noted that the 106th utilized the HH-60Gs for missions in Florida, Texas, and both North and South Carolina to respond to hurricanes and major storms.
“The Golf was a workhorse that the 106th counted on to get those who needed rescuing to a safer place,” Fitzgerald said. “In short, it was one of the tools used to save hundreds of lives, making a profound positive impact on countless more.”
Maj. Gen. Michael W. Bank, the commander of the New York Air National Guard and a former commander of the 106th, stated that the new helicopters contribute to the broader initiative of maintaining the wing's combat readiness.
"The addition of the HC-130-J, now the Whiskey, the construction that is going on here for your buildings, you guys are modernizing the wing to be ready for the 21st century Air Force that we need," Bank said.
Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Shields Jr., the adjutant general of New York, explained that upgrading the wing's aircraft is essential for maintaining the New York Air National Guard's ability to respond to new challenges.
During the ceremony, Tech. Sgt. Michael Tessar, a 106th HH-60 crew chief, was honored as the first dedicated crew chief (DCC) for the brand new HH-60W.
According to Capt. Nic Arosemena, a pilot in the wing's 101st Rescue Squadron, designating a DCC is a tradition that stems from World War II.
“During World War II, aircraft maintenance personnel played a crucial role in ensuring the readiness and safety of military aircraft,” Arosemena explained. “The practice of stenciling a crew chief’s name on the aircraft became a way to recognize the person responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of that aircraft. Adding their name to the fuselage fostered a sense of ownership, pride, and accountability.”
Before unveiling his designation on the new HH-60W, Tessar was coined by Shields in recognition of his new title.
"It's an exciting time to be a part of the Air National Guard, especially within the 106th, where we are at the forefront of these innovations and ready to meet all challenges that lie ahead," Tessar said. “As advancements in military aircraft technology continue, so too will the skills of myself and my fellow maintainers and aircrew.”
The ceremony concluded with a demonstration fly-by of the HH-60W Jolly Green II, performed by the first qualified crew from the 106th Rescue Wing. This crew included Lt. Col. James Liston, a pilot, and Staff Sgt. Joe Devito, a special missions aviator, both assigned to the 101st Rescue Squadron.
Liston said it was an honor to be able to participate in the ceremony.
“Being a part of the first crew qualified is a welcome responsibility and we look forward to passing what we have learned on to the rest of the squadron,” he said. “The new aircraft will provide us with new capabilities to perform our vital mission of Personnel Recovery.”
Devito added that he is excited for the rest of the team to get qualified and to start putting their new capabilities to the test.
“Although we celebrate the arrival of our brand-new helicopter, we must always remember it is the Airman that makes the system work,” said Fitzgerald. “There is not a better or more deserving unit to receive these new aircraft and I’m excited to see the great things that will be accomplished now that it has been put into the capable hands of 106th Airmen.”
The 106th Rescue Wing, based at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York, operates and maintains the HC-130J Combat King II search and rescue aircraft, and the HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter. The 106th Rescue Wing is home to a special warfare squadron with pararescuemen and combat rescue officers, specializing in rescue and recovery, and deploys for domestic and overseas operations.
| Date Taken: | 10.25.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 11.05.2024 13:45 |
| Story ID: | 484148 |
| Location: | WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 78 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The 106th Rescue Wing Hosts HH-60W Conversion Ceremony, by SrA Sarah McKernan, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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